What is your Artist Name:
Shane Balkowitsch from Bismarck, North Dakota
Short intro about what you do and what kind of artist are you?
My name is Shane Balkowitsch and I operate a Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio in Bismarck. I am practicing the historical wet plate collodion process from 1851 of pure silver on black stained glass. I have original plates in 60 museums including the Smithsonian, The Royal Photographic Society, Library of Congress and the world-famous Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford to name a few. There are less than 1000 wet plate collodion practitioners presently practicing in the world.
How and where did you learn your art form?
I saw a wet plate photograph online back in 2012 and I was drawn to the process. I am self-taught and have no formal schooling or training in photography.
Why this medium?
“Analog photography is king” is what I always say. These silver images will last 1000 years unbroken, and you cannot say that about any modern-day photographic process. There is something tangible and beautiful about making photographs by hand using a 170-year-old technique.
Where do you create? What is your studio space?
I built the first natural light wet plate studio in the country in over 120 years. My studio is located in my backyard and every Friday I am in there making photographs. I am booked out about 7 months for my Friday sessions and people travel in from all over the country to see the process firsthand.
Describe a typical day in your studio.
I get into the studio about 7am and start preparing chemicals and glass. I also work on labeling and varnishing previous plates. Sitters start showing up around 11am and we shoot images until about 4pm. The sun starts to be less prevalent in the later afternoon hours and we need the natural light to make my work. On a typical day I make between 8 and 10 portraits.
How long have you been working in this medium?
I took my first wet plate of my brother on October 4th, 2012. Since then, I have made 4490 plates.
What Inspires You?
The human condition inspires me. I am a portrait photographer to the core.
What is your favorite art product or material?
Silver is my favorite material. That is what my photographs are comprised of and silver does not degrade, it will be here for many generations, which cannot be said for paints, pigments, inks etc.
What have you made that you are most proud of?
My life’s work is my series “Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective”. The goal is to capture 1000 Native American portraits over a span of 20 years. The series is being documented in 4 volumes of books. I have made 665 portraits so far over about 9 years.
Where can we see your work? Where do you sell?
The best way to see my work is in person at my studio. I have done many art exhibitions but rarely are the original plates of display because of their fragility. They simply cannot be replaced. I make prints available of my work and do fund-raisers all the time as well. My books can be found on Amazon and an award winning documentary called “Balkowitsch” is also on Amazon Prime.
What will we be seeing from you next?
You will see me continuing to be diligent as I try to complete my Native American Series. I have a large exhibition scheduled in September 2023 at the Opera House in Ellendale. Framed prints will be available for purchase.
Do you have any advice for other artists and creatives?
I know it sounds cliche, but artists need to be true to themselves. Make art that makes you happy and do not get fixated on what others want from your work. Share your unique vision with the world.
What is your website or other online platforms people can use to see more work or contact you?
Website: sharoncol.balkowitsch.com/wetplate.htm
Instagram: www.instagram.com/balkowitsch/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/balkowitsch
IMDB
Amazon
